SCHOOL PROGRAMS 2015 / 2016

SCHOOL PROGRAMS 2015 / 2016 Thank you for choosing to visit Fort Calgary with your class! We are proud of our high quality, handson programs and we look forward to offering you an outstanding day of learning and fun at the place where Calgary began. We offer programs for students in kindergarten to grade six, as well as in-classroom resource kits for students at all levels. Please read through the following information, and have all of your school s details ready when you visit our web site to book your program. I had lots of fun when we learned about the past of Canada. I loved reading about Chief Crowfoot. My favourite part was when we dressed up as the people we studied. Nolan, gr5 We were expecting an awesome day and that s what we got! Instructors are fantastic. Programs are very educational, hands-on and structured. Grade 5 Teacher JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA fb.me/fortcalgary @ fortcalgary @ fortcalgary 1

PLANNING YOUR VISIT How much do programs cost? We charge on a per-student basis, up to a maximum of 30 students per program. $6.00 per student for a half day (single program) $12.00 per student for a full day (two programs) How do I pay? We will invoice your school following your trip this way you only pay for the students that were able to attend. Alternatively, you can pay at the Fort Calgary front desk on the day of your visit using cheque, debit, or credit. How long are the programs? Most programs are 1.5 hours; a couple of our programs are 2 hours in length. What time do programs start? How is the day structured? Your morning program will begin at 9:30 am. You will have a break for lunch from 11:00 12:00, and your afternoon program will begin at noon. Your day will end at 1:30 pm. (Please note that these times may change slightly if your bus is late arriving, or if you book a program that is 2 hours in length.) How many students can I bring? Our strict capacity is 30 students per program for a total of 60 students. These numbers are based on the Alberta Commission on Learning guidelines and are in place for both safety standards and to preserve the quality and integrity of our programming. An additional fee of $75 per student over 30 will be charged to any schools arriving with more than 30 students per program, or 60 students total (for two programs). Are the programs indoors? Yes! Fort Calgary is a National Historic Site: a 36-acre public park at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers. Programs take place inside our Learning Centre, and also utilize the Interpretive Centre and other spaces. The Sketching program may be hosted outside, weather permitting. Classes may explore outdoors at lunch and/or after their program. Do you offer financial assistance for low-income schools? Thanks to funding from an anonymous donor, Fort Calgary is able to offer free program fees and bussing to qualifying Equity Schools. Ask your principal if he/she received an invitation from the school board (CBE or CSSD) to participate as part of our Equal Access Program. Are your programs suitable for ESL learners, or students with special needs? All of our programs can be completed by ESL students, and can be adapted for students at different learning levels. Please be sure to identify any unique needs that your class has when booking so that we can plan how to best accommodate your class. Do your programs meet provincial curriculum requirements? All of our programs are designed to meet various curriculum connections. Your Teacher s Guide for each program will list these connections in more details if you have questions or concerns about curriculum connections, please contact us. What is the booking process? All bookings for programs and recourse kits are done online. Visit www.fortcalgary.com/programs and fill out our online registration form (registration opens in mid-august). On this form you will be able to select your ideal dates, and the programs that you would like to book. Expect to hear back from our Education Coordinator within one week to confirm your booking. Please note that we book all programs on a firstcome first-served basis, and may not be able to accommodate your first choice of dates. We will work with you to ensure that your visit is booked on date that works for you. Expect to receive your Welcome Package via e-mail up to a month prior to your visit. In this you will find a confirmation sheet to be returned to Fort Calgary confirming the number of students you will be bringing, and any concerns that your classes have. What if I have to cancel my program? We ask that you let us know as soon as possible if you will not be able to make your booked program. A cancellation fee of $150 will be charged for schools not providing at least one month notice. Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice may result in a higher charge. If your school is unable to attend due to inclement (winter) weather, please inform us as soon as possible. We will work with you to try and find an alternative date for you to visit. 2

PLANNING YOUR VISIT I have more questions who can I ask? For questions about bookings, resource kits, and programs please contact Kristen Heembrock, Education Coordinator at: kheembrock@fortcalgary.com or 403-269-1875 x227. Please note that we do not take any booking via phone or e-mail. For other concerns, please contact Katie Novak, Education Manager at: kvovak@fortcalgary.com or 403-269-1875 x232. 3

PROGRAMS MUSEUM TOUR Grades 1 6 If you want to explore the museum, book this program! Become a NWMP officer, then role-play a real life Calgary train drama, complete with costumes for each student! Teachers and adult leaders take over as students uncover clues throughout the museum using our scripted scavenger hunt. Location: Museum MEET THE MOUNTIES ECS & Grade 1 Shake hands with an artifact and make friends with a museum! Listen to the sounds of the prairies in Calgary s past and hear a North West Mounted Police tale from a surprise storyteller. Students will handle Mountie artifacts, try on NWMP uniforms, and explore our museum. and Museum BUILDING CALGARY Grades 1 2 Linking social studies and science, this program keeps your students moving! Discuss Calgary s past and how different types of buildings have been used. Then, students will work together to build a child-sized log cabin, and travel through the museum to further explore buildings and their materials. and Museum CALGARY: A PRAIRIE COMMUNITY Grades 2 3 Our most popular program celebrates the diversity of our prairie home! Build a 3-D map of our city and celebrate the language and culture of Calgary s founding communities. Students will enjoy dressing in costumes, learning new languages, and handling artifacts as they learn about what makes different cultures unique. CITIZENS CALGARY Grades 3 4 Become history detectives and investigate the luggage of early Calgarians. Students will discuss ideas of citizenship and community responsibility; then groups will handle artifacts and primary sources and work to think critically and determine the factors of Quality of Life that were important in the past and continue to make a difference in Calgary today. 4

PROGRAMS NEW! SUSTAINABILITY: MOUNTIES, MARSHES, & MAKING THE FUTURE Grades 3 6 Explore local ecosystems, including Fort Calgary s very own wetland, and discuss human impacts on the natural environment. Students will use critical thinking skills including comparison along with artifacts to discover how everyday items have changed, and how the sustainability of our society may have shifted since the Mounties first arrived here. and outdoors, weather dependant LIFE AND TIMES OF CAPTAIN DEANE Grades 4 5 Laugh out loud at the comic-book style illustrations that will introduce your students to the story of NWMP Captain Deane and his Deane House. Learn what it was like to be a Mountie under Captain Deane as students don uniforms and go on patrol seeking evidence throughout the museum and even throwing a wanted man in jail! and Museum MOUNTIE SUPERHEROES Grades 4 6 Bring tales of the NWMP to life with this new and unique program. Students will discuss different types of storytelling (oral, visual, written) and follow a timeline of the life of Colonel James Macleod to discover the life of this very important Mountie. Language and visual arts then join together as students work in groups to learn the stories of prominent Mounties and work together to turn them into a comic book!! ARCHAEOLOGY Grades 4 6 Uncover the story of Calgary s oldest National Historic Site with a hands-on dig. Students will sharpen their observation and analytical skills as they inquire about the artifacts they find. An archaeological conference gives your students the opportunity to measure, describe, and share their discoveries and to think critically about what they have found, and the meaning behind the items. SETTLING THE WEST Students will begin with an overview of Canadian exploration and settlement. They will then immerse themselves in history while working to research and understand the stories of people who helped settle Calgary and the West. Historical thinking is encouraged with a variety of primary and secondary sources such as newspapers, photographs, diary entries, artifacts, maps, charts, and more! Students don period costume to bring their research to life in a play that they create to tell their character s story. 5

PROGRAMS SETTLING THE WEST THEATRE OPTION Integrate drama to your social studies visit and extend your comprehension of early Calgary settlers by turning your half day program into a great full day. We highly suggest this option which allows students use Fort Calgary s newly renovated theatre along with costuming/props to showcase their educational play. Allow your students the freedom and time it takes to fully research and creatively present their Settling the West character by adding this option (+1.5 hours). Location: Theatre MOUNTIE CSI In Part 1 of Mountie CSI, students become NWMP police detectives and investigate a real historic crime from Calgary s past. Using forensic science experiments, they will log and analyze the evidence thoroughly before thinking critically and deciding on guilt or innocence. Some pre-visit work is required. MOUNTIE CSI: FULL DAY ADD-ON After students complete Part 1, book the afternoon and have them experience early Calgary s democratic system with a mock trial based on the morning s discoveries. Costumes and scripts bring the material to life! Some pre-visit work required. SKETCHING Grades 3 7 Follow in the footsteps of Mountie artists Henri Julien and Richard Nevitt! Students will join us in Fort Calgary s award-winning Community Garden, or indoors in various spaces, and learn how to focus on observing the world around them. Discover through sketching how the Mounted Police were inspired by and relied on the prairie landscape. Dress for the weather and bring your sketchbooks! /Interpretive Centre/Outdoors (weather dependent) THE GREAT MARCH WEST March with the Mounties as students get an in depth look at Canada during the time of Confederation.. Students will explore important events and factors that led to the NWMP establishing Forts in Western Canada.. Follow the Mounties and discover the excitement and fear that they encountered on the Great March West. Using Artifacts students will be encouraged to think critically and explore how the Mounties prepared and packed for their trek. 6

PARTNER PROGRAMS Fort Calgary is proud to partner with other local museums to offer programs that allow your class to visit TWO museums in one day to enjoy complementary programming. Programs can be booked through Fort Calgary. FORT CALGARY AND LOUGHEED HOUSE PRESENT: SKETCH IT! HOME & GARDEN Grades 3 7 Spend a great day tying history and art together at Calgary s two National Historic Sites. Half a day is spent at the Lougheed House exploring Victorian style and design motifs in the Art and Architecture program. Students will explore the house and learn how to create abstract images using graphite. The other half of the day is spent at Fort Calgary where students will take part in our Sketching program, indoors or out. Visit either site first; eat lunch at your starting location, and then switch! LIFE & TIMES IN CALGARY Grades 4 5 Discover what life was like in Calgary 100+ years ago for all of the city s inhabitants. Spend half a day at Fort Calgary and participate in our Life & Times of Captain Deane program (please see description above) and then enjoy half a day at The Lougheed House where students will further explore the life of early Calgarians. Length: 1.5 hours at each location, plus 1 hour travel/lunch Maximum 60 students Location: Fort Calgary and The Lougheed House (707-13 Avenue SW) Please note: Teachers are responsible for arranging transport between locations. Lougheed House programs run on Mondays & Tuesdays only. I learned that Mounties fight for justice. Bradey, gr 3 I learned that buffalo can be used for many things. Zaheed, gr 2 7

RESOURCE KITS FOR THE CLASSROOM Bring a piece of history to your classroom! Our Resource Kits give you the opportunity to have genuine artifacts in your classroom for students to explore, base projects on, and more. Each kit comes with an instructional binder offering information about the artifacts and kit materials, ideas for projects and games, as well as artifact handling instructions, gloves, and other helpful information. Most information in the kits is geared to elementary aged students, but can be easily adapted for older students. Kits are rented for a minimum of two weeks, and must be picked up and dropped off at Fort Calgary. UPDATED! BUFFALO AND BEYOND: INDIGENOUS WAYS OF LIFE Grades 1 & up The Siksika and Tsuu T ina peoples depended on the buffalo for food, clothing, shelter and tools. This kit will give your students the opportunity to handle genuine First Nations artifacts, and offers age-appropriate interactive classroom lesson plans that help students learn how First Nations people used the natural resources around them. You will also find engaging information about cultural traditions and celebrations. Location: Your Classroom Cost: $175 for 2 weeks, $80 for each additional week MOUNTIES ON THE MOVE Grades 1 & up Learn about the early days of Calgary by exploring the lives of some of our city s first citizens, the North West Mounted Police. Rent this resource kit and you will have access to genuine Mountie artifacts, pictures, stories, and clothing, as well as a teacher s guide full of fun activities and helpful resources! Location: Your classroom Cost: $175 for 2 weeks, $80 for each additional week FOUR COUNTRIES CELEBRATE: INDIA, TUNISIA, PERU & UKRAINE Grade 3 Having trouble finding information and resources on the four countries? Rent our unique kit for hands-on learning about the culture, language, geography and traditions of four very diverse countries. Cultural artifacts, costumes, music and a teacher s guide full of interactive, fun activities (and a resource section to photocopy) makes teaching this unit a breeze! Location: Your Classroom Cost: $175 for 2 weeks, $80 for each additional week 8